Hanover Police Department

The Town of Hanover has several town-owned Open Space parcels that are managed as Public Conservation Land. These properties are open for passive recreation and activities such hiking, jogging, nature study, horseback riding, and fishing. No motorized vehicles are allowed except in the parking areas. This includes the use of motorized dirt bikes and ATV’s.

There have been several recent reports by Hanover residents of motorized bikes and ATV’s on town-owned Open Space trails. These incidents have been reported to the Police, the Conservation Commission, and to the Open Space Committee. In addition to the noise issue, some of the town trails have been significantly altered by riding activities, and rutted and impassible trails are becoming more common on these properties.

In an effort to educate the community about the Open Space regulations and to end the riding on these trails, the Police, the Conservation Department, and the Open Space Committee will be coordinating an education and enforcement effort in the town. Signs will be posted on Open Space trail entrances, newspapers will be contacted, and every effort will be made to educate riders and their parents about the prohibition of this activity on town-owned open space. If these efforts are successful, there should be a reduction in the use of these motorized vehicles. If this approach is not successful in ending this activity, the Police Department will be increasing their enforcement activities, including the issuing of tickets and confiscating bikes and ATV’s.

There are legal riding trails in Southeastern MA that are maintained by the MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation. These are located in Freetown/Fall River and in Wrentham/Franklin. For more information on these sites and to learn more about registering ORV’s, riding season dates, age restrictions, etc., visit the MASS.Gov website and type in Off-Road Vehicle Rules and Regulations and then click on Dept. of Conservation & Recreation. There is a section on ORV’s.

The riding of these vehicles on privately owned property (with the permission of the owner and with proper registration) is also an option for riders. If town officials learn about areas where riding is allowed we will pass this information on to bike & ATV owners.

Please click the link below to read the Department of Conservation and Recreation website on the state's website.

Mass.gov Department of Conservation and Recreation

IDENTITY THEFT

Identity theft is the unlawful use of another person’s personal information, such as name and date of birth, credit card numbers, Social Security number, or driver’s license information for the purpose of committing fraud or some other form of deception. It is one of the fastest growing forms of criminal conduct in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission has estimated that 43% of fraud committed in the United States in 2002 was related to identity theft. Although the unauthorized use of another person’s identity is in itself a crime under federal and Massachusetts law, it is almost always a means of committing other crimes such as bank fraud, check fraud, credit card fraud, Internet fraud, the fraudulent obtaining of loans, or the avoidance of criminal prosecution.

The first step in the compromising of a person’s identity may be the theft of trash, the skimming of a credit card, the obtaining of information via the Internet, or some other technique that may not even be detected by the victim. In other cases, the theft of an identity may begin with the theft of a wallet or purse, or the interception of mail. Early detection of identity theft can minimize the amount of financial loss and the extent of damage done to the victim’s credit.

It is the policy of this police department to investigate all instances where a citizen’s identity has been compromised for an unlawful purpose.

1. In each case of reported identity crime, whether the victim resides in this community or a fraudulent transaction occurs here, a police officer will conduct an investigation and immediately file a report.

2. Officers investigating instances of identity theft will provide victims with information that will assist them in repairing their credit and diminishing the amount of theft.

3. The department will refer to other law enforcement agencies information about fraudulent transactions occurring in their jurisdiction.

4. The department will seek to educate the public about the issue of identity crime, including methods for preventing it.

If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, please come in to talk to an officer at the police station.

For more information on identity theft and reporting it, check out these two sites.

Massachusetts Government Website (mass.gov)

Federal Website

Traffic Updates

Rt 53 Contruction is Complete, all roads are open. Winter St/Broadway Bridge is now complete, all roads are open.

Current Department Initiatives

Governors Highway Safety Bureau

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